Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Microfluidic Co-culture of Renal Healthy and Tumor Epithelium to Model Kidney Cancer Progression
Published on: January 31, 2025
Expression of erythropoietin and its receptor in human renal cell carcinoma
Karin Papworth1, Anders Bergh, Kjell Grankvist
1Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
Objective:
To investigate the prognostic impact of erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO-receptor (EPO-R) expression in tumour as well as serum EPO in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Methods:
Using immunohistochemistry, EPO and EPO-R were assessed in tissue microarrays from 195 RCCs. RCC type, TNM stage, nuclear grade, survival, EPO and haemoglobin (Hb) levels in blood were registered.
Results:
Strong expression of EPO and EPO-R in tumour tissue was found in 83 and 56%, respectively. EPO and EPO-R expression differed between RCC types. Serum EPO and blood Hb did not correlate to the expression of EPO or EPO-R. A positive correlation was found between the expression of EPO and EPO-R (p = 0.028). Survival was not related to tumour EPO, whereas strong EPO-R expression indicated a non-significantly worse prognosis. Serum EPO correlated positively to TNM stage and nuclear grade and negatively to survival. A multivariate analysis showed that TNM stage and nuclear grade were independent prognostic factors. Tumour EPO and EPO-R expression as well as serum EPO added no independent prognostic information.
Conclusion:
No correlation between EPO or EPO-R in tumour tissue and serum EPO or blood Hb was found. Neither EPO, EPO-R in tumour tissue nor serum EPO are independent prognostic factors.
Related Concept Videos
Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous capillaries...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
The Retinoblastoma Gene
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Erythropoiesis
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
